Top 10 Good Excuses To Call Out Of Work On Short Notice

Working as an employee is a challenging and stressful experience. 

It can be hard on your personal life.

During your first few months on the job, you’ll probably find yourself in a situation where you need to call out of work for personal reasons. 

Did you get word that your grandmother is coming in from out of town? 

Will you need to take care of your new dog while your roommate goes on vacation? 

Are you going through a third-strike disciplinary process with your boss, and there’s no way he won’t fire you if you miss work again this week?

In these situations and many more, getting time off as a worker can be difficult. 

Fortunately, with a little foresight and some creativity, you can probably come up with an excellent reason to stay home from work. 

If you’ve never done this before, it can feel like an impossible task, especially if you haven’t given your new boss much reason to trust you yet. 

Fortunately, we are in a modern era, and there are many ways to get our excuses with little notice and no red flags raised.

If you’re unsure what kind of excuse will fly when calling in sick or taking leave, check out this list of the top 10 best excuses to call out of work on short notice.

Good Excuses To Call Out Of Work On Short Notice

Working can sometimes be challenging, especially when you have to meet tight deadlines and are left with little time to complete the job. 

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This is where having an excuse handy can come in handy. 

If you find yourself in this situation, it cannot be easy to get out of work on short notice, even if you have a good reason to do so. 

Here are the top 10 good excuses to call out of work on short notice:

1. Religious Holiday

If you take a day off, make sure it falls on a religious holiday.

Thanks to this, you will be free to do whatever you want the whole day.

It’s only natural that you want to look like you’re celebrating this holy occasion.

Moreover, most superiors will not ask you about religion because it is part of your personal life.

Also Read: Family, Friends, and Career ( work-life balance)

2. Unexpected Delivery

Tell your boss you don’t know when the delivery will be so you’ll have to take the day off.

For larger deliveries, it is often necessary to have someone present at home.

To illustrate, you will need to inform your boss that your baby’s bed will be delivered during the day at work, and you will need to be available for the delivery person for several hours at a time, which is a great excuse to miss work.

3. Bad Internet Connection

As far as excuses for missing work go, this one is pretty solid to use on short notice.

Nothing is more anxious and annoying than when you have a busy schedule or an important presentation and your WiFi goes out.

While you can handle some tasks offline or schedule meetings over the phone, troubleshooting WiFi issues can take valuable time, especially if you need help.

A bad internet connection is a good excuse to miss work quickly.

4. Family Emergencies

There are family emergencies, and most employers will be understanding and sympathetic if you call them and tell them you have a sick child to take care of.

A sick child can be a last-minute excuse, even on the same day as your work shift.

It is tough to be a working parent at times.

Family emergencies are one of the best excuses for a short absence because your children need immediate attention.

Read Also: How To Answer Interview Questions About Your Career Aspirations

5. Painful Menstrual Cycles

Painful menstrual cycles are a real issue for many women, and most companies would instead not get too involved.

You can tell your boss that you are experiencing painful cramps; most likely, they won’t bother asking more questions.

There is often nothing worse for a woman than terrible menstrual cramps.

However, on the other hand, dealing with menstrual cramps can often be a good excuse to miss work.

It’s one of the best excuses for a short-term absence.

6. Blood Donation

After donating blood, you usually feel tired and have less energy.

Don’t forget to ask for a doctor’s note if you are indeed donating blood.

Donating blood is a thoughtful way to help patients in need, especially those with traumatic injuries and those undergoing surgery.

One of the best parts is that you can often see a blood donation truck unexpectedly.

Most people do not expect to return to work after donating blood.

7. Car Problems

Car problems can be severe and put you out of work for at least part of your workday.

Inform your supervisor that you must wait for a tow truck or that your car needs repairs.

Getting to work will be impossible if you get a flat tire or your engine breaks down on the way.

Even if it didn’t happen and you don’t have a broken car, it’s a good excuse.

However, if you can work remotely or entirely from home, this explanation won’t work.

8. Disease

If you are unwell and potentially contagious, your employer will not want you in the workplace.

Explain that you are not feeling well – perhaps your body temperature is unusual, and you feel unwell.

The average person gets sick several times a year, so missing work due to an unexplained illness shouldn’t raise too many red flags.

A sick day is usually a good excuse to miss work at short notice.

All you have to do is let your boss know that you will return to work when you feel better.

9. A Day Off For Mental Health

Mental health is as crucial as your physical health, which is vital if you want to perform well at work.

Let your boss know that you would like to take a personal day to get together so you can perform even better at work.

While you can’t completely restore your mental health with a day off, spending time alone with yourself can help you recharge.

Pull yourself together by taking a mental health day off from work.

10. Appointment With The Dentist

Make sure your manager or boss knows you’re dealing with a toothache.

If you have an upcoming visit to the dentist, mention this to him as well.

A severe toothache can even prevent you from eating or opening your mouth.

Your boss would look terrible if he didn’t let you go, given how much you suffer.

Moreover, it will affect your work, and you will not be able to concentrate fully.

Nothing is more painful than a toothache, and it’s a reasonable excuse to skip work at the last minute.

Conclusion

Sometimes you need to take time off due to illness, family matters, and other extenuating circumstances. Calling out of work can be tricky because you don’t want to burn bridges with your boss or HR department by doing so haphazardly. 

Therefore, it’s essential to have some good excuses ready in case you need them. 

We hope these top 10 good excuses to call out of work on short notice will prove effective in helping you out.